[ColoradoKat]

Has anyone fed their children steel cut oats? My dd is 8 months old and I want to start introducing grains and heard good things about steel cut oats. But I can't find any information on how to cook them for babies. Does anyone know?? Thanks!!

 

[cdahlgrd]

Just use a little more water and cook them a little longer, so their a little softer.

Your dd will probably love them, their not so slimy!

 

[BetsyS]

I cook them normally, then let them cool into a big blob, then cut into squares. It's easier for us that way (and he loves it!)

 

[quietserena]

Note about grains:
Babies don't produce enough amylase (enzyme that digests grain) until a year and some sources say two.

 

[paquerette]

We eat steel cut oats but she started a bit later, maybe around 10 or 11 months.

 

[cheygirl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by quietserena Note about grains: Babies don't produce enough amylase (enzyme that digests grain) until a year and some sources say two.

I know this is OT....sorry....but I've heard this too and have been mostly avoiding grains because of it. But I don't remember where I heard it. Where does this info come from?

 

[quietserena]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheygirl I know this is OT....sorry....but I've heard this too and have been mostly avoiding grains because of it. But I don't remember where I heard it. Where does this info come from?

I originally read it here as quoted by JaneS actually and have since found that it is mentioned in Nourishing Traditions and the WAPF site somewhere.

But there are other less biased sources.

I forgot to mention - to help with this you can chew the grains for the baby since your saliva has plenty or add breastmilk. I'm not sure how much amylase is there in breast milk or saliva, so I'm planning on delaying grains as long as possible. I think my own digestive system has been affected by feeding cereal way too early (2 months

.

 

[thehappydeer]

I really recommend Nourishing Traditions! This book changed my life. It would be important also ( as N.T. will explain) to soak grains at least 8 hours before cooking them. This releases the potentially harmful phytic acid, which bonds to minerals in our digestive track and actually pulls them out of the body ( among other things)! It also helps begin the process of breaking down the other hard to digest parts of the grain. Very important for grown-ups and babies! This does mean some careful planning of meals, but its worth it! I read that even the Quaker Oats packages recommended soaking the oats overnight until the 50's microwave revolution! We've unlearned to much about nutrition in just a few generations!

 

[ColoradoKat]

Thanks ladies!! I do have Nourishing Traditions on hold at the library and it is taking forever to get in. Believe it or not my ped recommended it!

It makes sense to hold off, we are not doing rice cereal either. Are there any good grains I can give her now (8 months)?

So it looks like I will be eating the batch of oats and blueberries I made last night for breakfast!

 

[quietserena]

Also, for soaking oats, you'll want to add a little bit of some other grain for the phytease boost. More info.

ColoradoKat, I'm not giving DD any grains now because all of them will require amylase to digest. I'm slowly working on being grain free, so it's not a huge deal for me personally.

 

[AmyB]

If you're in Colorado you might have the same problem I do with steel cut oats-- at high altitude I think I would need a pressure cooker to ever make them soft enough to eat. Personally, I have given up on them and gone back to rolled oats which cook just fine at high altitudes.

--AmyB